Apparatus for casting and delivering pig metal.



No. 866,607. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

E. A. WEIMER. APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLIUATIOR' FILED IEB.21, 1907- 12 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

witnesses inventor PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

E. A. WEIMER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING ANDDELIVERING PIG METAL.

PPLIOATI III E I 1,1 0. A 0 L D :3 2 9 7 12 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@umeutnr witussszsz A A is No. 866,607. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

. E. A. WEIMER. APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLICATION FILED 31-1121. 1907.

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No. 866,607. A PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907;

E. A. WEIMER. APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING 'PIG METAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21. 1907.

12 SHEETB-8HEET 4.

atfoznu PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

B; A. WEIMER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1907.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

wituzsles c 7? PATENTED SEPT. 17,

No. 866,607. E. A. WEIMBR.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

E. A. WEIMER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLIUATION FILED II-IB.21. 1907.'

12 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

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' E. A. WEIMER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLICATION FILED P3121, 1907.

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5] nveufoz Witnesses a. $6 OWM No. 866,607. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1967. B.A. WEIMER.

APPARATUS FOR-CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLIOATIOI FILED 11:11.21, 190v.

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No. 866,607. I

A E. A. WEIMER.

. APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.21, 1907.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

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E. A. WEIMER.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLIOATIOI FILED FEB. 21. 1907,

v 12 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

ifi'i g PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907. E. A. WEIMBR. APPARATUS FOR CASTING ANDDELIVERING PIG METAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1907.

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nventoz EDGAR A. WEIMER, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

v APPARATUS FOR CASTING AND DELIVERING PIG METAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1907.

Application filed February 21,1907. Serial No. 358,647.

same:

My invention relates to machinery for the continuous casting of pigmetal and delivering the same, comprising a' continuous chain of molds,which are filled from a pouring apparatus, means for discharging thepigs from the molds, means for cooling the pigs, and means for conveyingthe pigs to a place of delivery upon cars or other receptacles.

The invention has for its object economy in time and labor, and consistsin certain improvements which will a be fully disclosed in the followingspecification and claims.

- In the accompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification:Figures 1, 1 and 1 represent a side elevation of a castingapparatus. embodying my invention, the mold carrier and the pig conveyerbeing indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 represents an enlarged plan viewof the metal pouring apparatus. Fig. 3 a side elevation on an enlargedscale representing the discharge end of the mold carrier section and thereceiving end of the pig conveyor, the mold-carrier and the pigconveyerbeing omitted. Fig'. 4 a side elevation of the mold-carrier on anenlarged scale, showing the discharge end of the mold-carrier. Fig. 5 avertical transverse section oi the mold-carrier showing the molds inposition on the upper side of the structure only. Fig. 6

a top plan view of a section of the mold-carrier, the molds beingomitted. Fig. 7 an end view of the same. Fig. 8 a vertical longitudinalsection, partly in elevation of the axle for the wheels of the moldcarrier. Fig.

9 a top plan view of a pair of molds on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 10 a side elevation of one of the molds. Fig. 11 a verticaltransverse section of a pair of molds. Fig. 12 a top plan view of asection of the pig-conveyer, the bottom or pig supporting plates beingremoved and the track omitted. Fig. 13 an end view of the pig-conveyorand its supporting track. Fig. 14 a plan view of one of the bottom orpig supporting plates detached. Fig. 15 a transverse section of thesame. Fig. 16 an enlarged end view of the discharge end of themold-carrier, only one of the mold-carriers and its molds being shown,the

molds being shown on the upper side of the drum or sprocket-wheel onlyand the buffer omitted to avoid confusion of the drawing, and Fig. 17 anenlarged side view of the discharge end of the pig-conveyer structure,

the conveyer being omitted.

Referencebeing had to the drawings and the desig- .the ends of thewheel.

nating characters thereon, the numeral 1 indicates a car from whichmolten metal is poured into a trough 2, anddistributed in molds 3 bysupplemental troughs 4, 5, one on each side of the main trough 2. SeeFigs. 1 and 2. The trough 2 is provided with a longitudinal channel 6,and lateral discharge channels 7, 8, and all of the channels areprovided with inclined walls 9. The trough 2 is supported on trunnions10, 11, in bearings 12, 13 respectively, and the trough is tilted todischarge metal in either trough 4', 5, and set of molds alternately bya lever 14 operated manually, and the supplemental troughs 4, 5, areprovided with trunnions 15, 16, supported respectively in bearings 17,18, and are manipulated by levers 19, 20, to produce an even flow of themetal. The troughs 4, 5, have inclined walls 21, and a verticalprojection 22 having like inclined walls 21, and forms two passages 23and 24 for the discharge of the metal into the molds 3, arranged inpairs on two separate endless flexible mold-carriers 25, 26 which travelon suitable upper rails or tracks 27, 28, and lower rails or tracks 29,30.

The mold-carriers are composed of links or bars '31, 31, in each end ofwhich is an axle which passes through the adjacent and overlappingendsof the links 31, as shown in Fig. 6. The axle is composed of a bolt33 having a head 34 at one end and a nut 35 at the opposite end and issurrounded by a sleeve 36 of pipe or tubing, the outer links 31 are heldbetween the bolt head and the nut respectively, with a washer37interposed between the links 31, and a washer 37 between the inner bar31 and the wheel 38, as shown in Figs.

6, 7 and 8, the wheel being omitted in the latter figure. The washers 37take the lateral wear on the links 31 and prevent the ends of the outerbars being pressed in and binding against the inner bars, and thewashers-37 take the wear between the inside bars and The pairs of links31 on each side of the mold-carrier are secured together by a transverserod or bolt 39, on which are spreaders 39 between the links, andthimbles 40, '41 and 42 on the bolt arranged to leave spaces 43 and 44,to receive the lugs 45 on the lower side of the front end of the molds3. The bolt 39 may be removed for repairs or renewal withoutafiectingthe mold-carrier. The mold-carrier thus constructed is composed ofmerchantable iron, and the parts may be readily removed as they becomeworn.

The molds 3 extending lengthwise of the carrier and being secured to thecarrier at one point only, are free to expand without distorting orstraining or disturbing the alinement of the carrier. The rear end ofeach mold 3 is provided .with an extension 46 which overlaps and restsupon the front or adjacent end 47 of the next mold,

as shown in Fig. 4, and in said extension 46, is formed a trough 48, seeFig. 9, through which molten metal is dischargedor overflows from onemold into the next mold as one mold is being poured or filled, to forman initial bath of metal in the molds to prevent the stream of metalfrom the pouring trough cutting the molds, and diffuses or distributesthe heat equally over the full length of the molds, which results inequal expansion of the molds. The overflow of the molten metal from onemold into the next adjacent mold is caused by the angle or inclinationof the mold-carrier, the front end of the molds being highest as theypass under the pouring troughs, as shown in Fig. l. The adjacent edgesor sides of each pair oi molds are made to lap one over the other, asshown at 49 and 50 in Fig. 11 to prevent the metal being poured fallingbetween the molds and separating them laterally.

The mold-carriers are supported on a drum or sprocket wheel 51 at thelower or pouring end and on like drums or sprocket wheels 52 at theupper or discharge end in the usual manner, the drums being mounted onshafts 53, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and the mold-carriers arepropelled by a suitable motor 54 and gearing 55, 56, 57 and 58, shown inFig. 3, or in' any preferred manner. In the shrinking of the pigs theyleave both ends of the molds 3, and the molds travel over the drum orsprocket 52, the pigs 59 slip forward in'the molds, and when the moldsswing outward on the bolts 39, the free ends of the molds strike againstprojections 60 on a buffer 61 and dislodgethe pigs from the molds, whenthey fall upon an inclined grating 62 through which dirt and thetransverse rod on which the molds are pivoted is omitted, see Figs. 12,13, 14 and 15.

70, 71 indicate the links connected to the axles 72 supporting thewheels 73 and are provided with washers, not shown, between theoverlapping ends of the links and between the ends of the hubs oi thewheels and the inner link. Each inner link is provided with a horizontalflange 74 to which a corrugated plate or bottom 75 is secured by bolts.The wheels 73 engage rails on a track 76 and the pig-conveyer travelsover drums or sprocket wheels 77; one at each end of the conveyer,propelled by a suitable motor 78 and suitable gearing, such as 79 and80, which may be connected as shown in Fig. 1" or as shown in Fig. 17,or in any other approved manner. In the latter form, pinions 81, 82 areinterposed. The pigs are discharged from the conveyer as the latterpasses over the drum 77 at the outer end of the conveyer and fall upon agrating 83 from which they gravitate to a chute 84 and are dischargedfrom the chute into a car or other receptacle, not shown. The

chute is raised and lowered by a Windlass 85, and a wire rope 86 passingover a sheave 87.

88 indicates baths or tanks for the pigs inclined longitudinally towardthe center of the tank to cause any d eposit from the pigs to gravitateto the lowest point in the tank, from which they are discharged throughan openiug 89 in the side of the tank, provided with a suitable valve,not shown.

90 indicates a pipe, leading to a suitable source of supply, not shown,provided with ejectors or nozzles 91 for cooling the pigs by blasts ofair, or water projected against the pigs while in transit.

In the practical operation of casting machines, a large proportion ofthe pigs are broken by immersing them in water, due to the fact that thepigs lie on fiat conveyer plates. The film space between the pigs andthe plates being filled with steam or gas, will not allow the water toenter and cool the pig on all sides, and as a result, un-' equalcontraction of the pigs takes place, breaking them into pieces.Miniature explosions also occur under the pigs, which have a tendency tofloat the pigs. This floating or kicking of the pigs is detrimental tothe life or duigability of the conveyer, as the pigs jam against eachother to the injury of the conveyer. To overcome this difficulty thecorrugated plates have been employed, on which the pigs are supported onthe crowns of the con'ugations, thus allowing free circulation of thewater or air as the case may be around the pig. Furthermore, thecorrugated plates do not bend as readily as fiat plates, and by keepingtheir shape the conveyer will be kept in alinementand its life pro-'longed.

It is obvious that the pig supporting plate may be made of parallel barsof metal, orthat a flat plate may be perforated or indented to allow thewater access to the lower side of the pigs, without departing from thespirit of my inventibn.

In iron high in silica and containing a certain percentage of sulfur,the pigs in passing through water disintegrate and are reduced in someinstances to granules. To avoid this it is my purpose to cool the pigsby the use of finely divided sprays of water supplied'through pipe 90and ejectors or nozzles 91 from the time the pigs leave the molds untilthey are discharged from the pig-Con- 100 veyer Or water may be sprayedby the use of ejectors operated by air pressure. The cooling effect ofthe re- I expansion of the air upon the water reduces the temperature ofthe water, and thereby cools the pigs with a greatly reduced expenditureof water, as the water is used over repeatedly. a The mold-carrier maybe made long enough to take in a cast of a furnace, and the pigs cooledon the pig-conveyer by exposure to the atmosphere.

The molds may be treated with a refractory material on their way back tothe pouring apparatus in any approved manner.

The pig-conveyer, the means for cooling the pigs, and the means fordischarging and delivering the pigs, form subject matterof a divisionalapplication for a patent,

filed on the 17th day of June, 1907, and numbered 379,354.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is i 1. In acasting apparatus, a metal pouring device comprising a primary orreceiving trough pivotally supported to be tilted laterally in oppositedirections and having lateral discharge passages, supplementaldistributing troughs pivotally supported to be tilted laterally inopposite directions under the discharge ends of the primary trough,means for tilting said troughs, and a mold carrier under each,supplemental trough.

2. In a casting apparatus, a metal pouring device comprising a primaryorreceiving trough pivotally sup mrtod to he tilted laterally in oppositedirections and inminn-nil 1 in discharge passages, supplementaldistributing troughs pivotally supported to be tilted laterally inopposite directions under the discharge ends of the primary trough, and

provided with discharge passages at their front ends, and

a mold carrier under each supplemental trough.

3. In a casting apparatus, a pouring device, a flexible mold-carrierprovided with side links, and transverse rods, and having longitudinallyextending molds pivotally supported on the rods of the carrier at oneend only to allow free expansion of the'molds.

1. In a casting apparatus, a pouring device, a flexible mold-carrierprovided with side links and transverse rods, and having longitudinallyextending molds pivotally sup ported on the rods of the carrier at theirfront ends and overlapping the front ends of the next molds at theirrear ends, I

5. In a casting apparatus, a pouring device, a flexible mold-carrierprovided with side links and transverse rods, and having longitudinallyextending molds pivotally supported on the rods of the carrier at theirfront ends, overlapping the front ends of the next molds at their rearends, and having a passage at the rear end or the mold to dischargemetal into the next mold.

tudinally extending molds plvotally supported at their front ends onsaid rods. I

7. In a casting apparatus, a pouring device, a mold-carrier comprisingparallel longitudinal links, wheels between theends of said links, anaxle for each wheel surrounded by a thimble extending to the outsidelinks, a

washer between the links'at both ends of said thimble, a

washer between the inner link and each end of the hub of.the wheel,-transverse rods between the wheels, and molds pivotally secured to saidrods. p

8. In a casting apparatus, a pouring device, a flexible mold-carriercomprising longitudinal links and transverse rods, and havinglongitudinally extending molds pivotally supported at one .end on therods of the carrier, and a buffer in the path of the molds and againstwhich the molds strike to dislodge the pigs therefrom.

9. In a casting apparatus, a pouring device, an upwardly inclinedmold-carrier provided with longitudinally arranged molds overlapping thefront end of the next succeeding mold, for supplying an initial chargeot'molten metal from the rear end of one mold to the front end of IEDGAR A. WEIMER.

Witnesses:

Eowm H. Snnorr, CHARLES Fons'rnn.

